Chapter 61 - Lifting the veil (1/2)

Aiden got woken up from his little mid-day nap with a loud knock on the closed door. His father's voice shifted his brain back to gear, as he curtly called out for him.

”Lunch!”

After he said that, Aiden could hear the footsteps. Sighing, he stood up from the bed and quickly stretched his limbs. Thinking back on the short shout-fest that was supposed to be a talk with his mother, he summarized what he knew. He had to come up with a solution to their problems during lunch, and free them of the Nightmares grasp.

'So, the fact that father lost his job and that he is currently wasting away in sorrow is faulted to me not helping, but instead going to the local school to further my education? How the hell am I going to convince them that this was the right choice? Argh, this is so hard!' he grumbled.

He was prepared for almost any challenge he could think of. Well, almost anything. He wasn't too confident about battling 'enemies' with his wits alone. Aiden may have been social in his previous life, but that's all gone and done. He is not that person anymore. Heck, he doesn't even remember anything about that life.

From the conversations over the years, the only thing he managed to squeeze out from Enya was that he was supposed to remember them, but due to some 'unlucky' accidents, they are sealed. She also said that there is a chance for him to regain most if not all of his sealed memories, but as to how, she could not, or would not say.

Managing to successfully wake up and finishing his stretching routine, Aiden left his room and went to the kitchen where both of his parents were already seated. They were silently waiting for him, with all food prepared already. It was a traditional lunch, with 3 courses. The first the soup, the second the main dish, and for the final, some coffee with desserts. Well, traditional for this locale.

The soup, which was broth, was fresh and delicious. Tasting it, Aiden couldn't help but loudly slurp up his first spoonful of it. The middle-aged man, his father grumbled, while the woman, his mother also voiced his annoyance.

”At least mind your manners! Is making us suffer the only thing you can do?!”

Aiden looked at the woman, with a confused expression.

”I'm not sure I follow your logic, mother. That was just my instinctual response, voicing my fondness of the taste. If anything, you should be delighted. That was a natural reaction, conveying my feeling, that the soup you made is delicious.”

The father continued to grumble under her breath, while the woman scorned at the response.

”Manners! Etiquette! This is not how we raised you! If you like the food than politely thank the chef. Don't act like a pig!”

Aiden gently smiled at the woman and tried to showcase as much kindness and love in his voice, he spoke.

”Mother, you are right. I behaved incorrectly, and for that, I apologize. As for the food, I would like to say: Thank you. I may have not tried the other dishes yet, but the soup is wonderful. Thank you for doing all this effort trying to please us.”

With his monologue finished, he continued consuming his soup. This time, however, he tried copying their spoon movements and act as politely as possible. He decided that he will roll with the flow and try to convey kindness and filial piety. Hopefully, that will break through to their hearts, banishing the Nightmare surrounding it.

”Humph!” A loud snort was the only response Aiden received for his heartfelt effort. He didn't mind though, this was another small step towards the right direction. The rest of the first dish was finished in silence.

The main dish was another traditional course of the locale, fried chops with mashed potatoes. Just the smell itself was mouth-watering for Aiden. He had a really hard time holding himself back, trying to act politely and not just jump in and gobble everything up.

The strangeness of the situation didn't even occur to him. Back in reality, while he preferred specific foods (mostly meats), he didn't 'like' the food in the traditional sense. He prioritized everything based on the energy, (or in other words: Soul Power) it could provide. Here, in the illusion, however, he genuinely thirsted, hungered for the taste. It was very… human-like.

After giving it a taste, he looked at his mother, and with the same gentle smile just like before, he gave his praise for the food.

”Khm, continuing my previous words, this is also very tasty, flavourful. If you wouldn't mind me saying, this dish is absolutely mouth-watering, mother!”